Portable cable puller



ec, 21, 1965 s. c. ENSLEY 3,224,733

PORTABLE CABLE FULLER Filed May 1, 1963 Io INVENTOR.

GLOVE/2 6'. ilvszr ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,733 PORTABLE CABLE FULLER Glover C. Ensley, 525 N. Woodland Drive, Kansas City North, M0. Filed May 1, 1963, Ser. No. 277,232 2 Claims. (Ci. 254-134.3)

This invention relates to a portable cable puller, and more particularly to an apparatus which may be secured to a support or wall adjacent conduits through which cables are run in various parts of a building structure.

The present cable pulling device is adapted for use in building construction where small space is available for pulling a cable and fastening of the device to a support, which is also in some cases not readily available. The present puller is adapted for use where a fish line is run through a conduit in order to pull a rope therethrough and whereby the rope is attached by conventional means to the end of the electric cable which is to be drawn through the conduit or pipe.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide means for fastening the cable puller to a support in a building structure and particularly through adjustable chain means on the frame of the puller to accommodate such attachments to supports of different size; to provide a frame upon which a motor is mounted having gear connection with capstans of different size and to be operated at different speeds for pulling of cable with the present device; to provide a rope operable over the capstans having an end attached to the cable to be pulled and the free ends of the rope to be contained by the hand of the operator; to provide selective capstans on the frame for use in high speed or low speed work; to provide for tensioning of the rope on the capstans so the rope will slip thereon should it or the cable hang in the conduit, and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture and efficient to use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the ap paratus with parts broken away to show details of the capstan driving members and attachment of the device to a support.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view particularly illustrating the capstans and chain fastening mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged View of the stop mechanism to prevent backward rotation of the large capstan.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown attached to a support.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The numeral 1 designates generally a cable puller embodying the features of my invention comprising a frame 2 including a longitudinal base member 3. Welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the end 4 of the base and underneath thereof is a cross arm 5 of channel shape and spaced from the rear end 6 of the base 3 is a cross arm 7 which is also of channel shape and welded or otherwise suitably secured under the base 3. U-shaped channel members 8 and 9 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the underneath side of the U-shaped arms 5 and 7 and extend longitudinally of the? base 3 but to one side thereof. The open portion ltlz'oftthe channel members 8- and 9 are adapted to engage a support 11 which is here shown to be of tubular formation.

The ends 12 and 13 of the cross arms 5 and 7 are provided with slots 14 and 15 for receiving the free ends 16 and 17 of chains 18 and 19. The opposite ends 20 and 21 of the cross arms 5 and 7 are provided with openings 22 and 23 for the reception of threaded rods or the like 24- and 25. One end of the rods are provided with openings for receiving pins 26 and 27 on the other ends 28 and 29 of the chains 18 and 19. Nuts 30 and 31 are provided for the ends of the rods 24 and 25 extending through the openings 22 and 23 in the ends of the cross arms 5 and 7 to which are attached handle members 32 and 33. The links of the chains 18 and 19 are provided with outwardly extending pins 34 and 35 for engaging in the notches 14 and 15 in the ends 12 and 13 of the cross arms 5 and 7.

After the chains 18 and 19 have been placed around the tube 11 or other support the pins 34 and 35 are engaged in the notches 14 and 15 and then by tightening of the nuts through the handle members 32 and 33 the chain will be drawn tight around the support to hold the frame and mechanism thereon now to be described .on the support.

The frame 2 includes an upstanding post 36 near the longitudinal center thereof and an upstanding post member 37 spaced from the end 6 of the base 3 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The frame also includes an arm 38 having one end integrally connected to the post 36 and its other end welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the post member 37. The frame also includes an arm 39 having one end rigidly attached to the base 3 and its other end integrally and rigidly connected to the upper end of post 36 and arm 37 as illustrated in FIG. 4. An arm 40 is also rigidly secured to the upper end of post 36 and arm 38 and has its lower end rigidly secured to the upper end of post 36 and arm 33 and has its lower end rigidly attached by welding or other suitable means to the end 4 of the base 3 also as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The end 6 of the base 3 extends outwardly from the post member 37 and mounted on said extension of the base 3 is a motor 41 having a wire 42 connected to a source of electrical supply (not shown). The motor also includes a switch 43 for turning on and off of the motor. A brace member 44 is provided having one end attached to the motor as indicated at 45 and the other end to the cross bar 7 of the frame as indicated at 46 (FIG. I).

Rigidly secured to the upstanding post 37 and the un derneath side of the arm 38 is a bearing sleeve 47 which extends transversely of the frame and outwardly of the arm 38. A shaft 48 extends through the bearing sleeve 37, upon which is mounted a capstan 48" having a large sprocket gear 49 on the side of the frame opposite the capstan and a small sprocket pinion 50 on the side of the frame with the capstan.

The sprocket 50 rotates with the capstan 48' and is held on the shaft 48 by a key or the like 50'. Rigidly mounted on the end of the frame opposite the capstan 48 and at a slightly higher elevation on one side of the vertical post 36 and underneath the arm 38 is a shaft 51. A large sprocket gear 52 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 51 adjacent the frame 2 and on the same side as the motor. A capstan 53 is carried by the shaft 51 and includes a sleeve bearing member 54 and a bearing 55 on the end 56 of the shaft 51 in which said end of the shaft engages. The capstan has a flange portion 55' and is secured to the sprocket 52 by bolts or the like 56' (FIG. 2) and is rotatable therewith. A cap plate 57 is secured to the end of the shaft 51 by a set screw 60 to retain the hearing 55 on the shaft. Lubricant is supplied to the bearing through a longitudinal opening 61 and transverse openings 63 intersecting therewith. A zerk fitting 62 is secured in the open end 64 of the longitudinal opening 61 in the shaft 51 as is the usual practice. Lubricant is also supplied to the shafts 48 by a zerk fitting 62' through openings (not shown).

The small sprocket pinion 50 mounted on the shaft 48 aligns with the large sprocket gear 52 over which sprockets a chain 66 is adapted to run. The sprocket gear 49 on the shaft 48 is in alignment with a sprocket pinion 67 on the shaft 68 of motor 41 over which a chain 69 is adapted to run for operation of the capstans respectively. The sprocket gear 52 and pinion 50 are covered by a housing 70 and the sprocket gear 49 and pinion 67 have a housing 71 for protection of the gear and chain arrangements.

The housing 70 is supported on the framework 2 of the device by bracket arms 73 and 74 and the housing 71 is supported on the framework by a bracket 73'.

In operation of a device constructed and assembled as described after the framework has been secured to the conduit or support 11 by the chains 18 and 19 and the chains tightened thereon as above stated a fish line (not shown) to which an end of the rope 75 is attached is run through the conduit 76 in a building structure (not shown) according to the usual practice and the end of the rope attached to a supply of cable on a drum (not shown) also as is the usual practice.

The rope 75 is then wound around one of the capstans 48 or 53 two or three times as illustrated in FIG. 2, the rope being wound around the smaller capstan and the free end of the rope held in the hand of the operator as indicated at 76 (FIG. 1). The motor 41 is then energized by the switch 43 to rotate the sprocket pinion 67 which engages through chain 69 with the large sprocket 49 on the small capstan 48' to rotate the capstan whereby the rope will be wound on the capstan and the operator will keep the slack out of the line and the rope 75 may be piled on the floor in which the device is used as it is played from the capstan and from the conduit 76. By adjusting the tension of the rope by the operator on the capstan either tightly or loosely slippage of the rope on the capstan 48' is adjusted and is particularly adaptable should the rope become tightened in the conduit 76 or completely stopped so that the machine may be stopped or slowed down to prevent injury or damage to the equ1pment.

When it is desired for slower operation or withdrawal of the cable or line through conduit 76 the rope 75 is wrapped around the larger capstan 53 as indicated in dotted lines FIG. 2 and the capstan 53 is driven through rotation of the large sprocket gear 52 by chain 66 from the sprocket pinion 65 which is rotated by sprocket gear 67 on the shaft 48 and chain 69 running over pinion 68 of the motor 41.

To provide rigidity to the framework 2 and particularly to the cross arms and 7 I provide gusset members 77 rigidly secured by welding or the like to a side of the arms 5 and 7, the base 3 and posts 36 and 37 respectively, on the side of the frame to which the capstans are mounted.

To prevent reverse rotation of the capstans I provide a stop mechanism indicated generally at 78' which includes a U-shaped bracket 79 mounted on the arm 40 (FIG. 4) having a rod 80 of hexagon shape extending through spaced ears 81 and 82 of the bracket 78, the rod 80 being of hexagon shape and having a tapered or cam end 83. A coil spring 84 is mounted between the ear 81 of the bracket and a washer 85 with a cotter key 86. The cotter key 86 extends through an opening 87 in the rod 80 and a plurality of such openings may be provided to adjustably provide tension in the spring 84.

Mounted on the side 88 of the sprocket gear 52 is a wedge shaped stop member or lug 89 and secured thereto by a set screw 90 having a head 91 countersunk as shown in FIG. 3. When the capstan 53 is operating in a forward direction or in the direction to wind the rope 75 thereon the cam face 83 of the rod 80 will pass over the cam surface 92 of the stop member 89. Should for any reason the capstan 53 take a reverse direction the end of the rod 80 will be urged outwardly through the spring 84 and the plane surface 93 thereof will engage against the surface 94 of the stop member 89 and prevent further rotation in the reverse direction of the capstan.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved cable puller whereby a novel arrangement for fastening the frame of the puller to a support is provided and wherein selective capstans may be utilized for stringing of cable through a conduit or pipe in a building structure of the like.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pulling a cable through a conduit or the like adapted to be attached to a supporting member including a rope extending through said conduit and having one end attached to said cable comprising:

(a) a frame having a longitudinal member,

(b) spaced cross arms on said frame underneath said longitudinal member, one end of said arms having notches therein,

(c) longitudinally aligned U-shaped channel members secured to said cross arms and adapted to engage said supporting member,

(d) chains having one end engaging in the notches in the end of each of said cross arms and adjustable means on the other end of each of said chains cooperating with the other ends of said cross arms for adjustably securing said frame to said supporting member,

(e) motive means secured to said frame,

(f) spaced capstans mounted on said frame,

(g) aligned speed reducing means carried by said capstans and being connected to said motive means and adapted to selectively rotate said capstans for drawing rope in engagement with one of said capstans.

2. Apparatus for pulling a cable through a conduit or the like adapted to be attached to a supporting member including a rope extending through said conduit and having one end attached to said cable comprising:

(a) a frame having a longitudinal member and spaced upstanding post members and an arm connecting said post members,

(b) spaced cross arms on said frame underneath said longitudinal member, one end of said arms having notches therein,

(0) longitudinally aligned U-shaped channel members secured to said cross arms and adapted to engage said supporting member,

(d) chains having one end engaging in the notches in the end of each of said cross arms and adjustable means on the other end of each of said chains cooperating with the other ends of said cross arms for adjustably securing said frame to said supporting member,

(e) motive means secured to said frame,

(f) spaced capstans mounted on said post members of said frame on the same side thereof,

(g) aligned speed reducing means carried by said capstans and being connected to said motive means and adapted to selectively rotate said capstans for drawing rope in engagement with one of said capstans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,974 3/1904 Curry 254183 793,909 7/1905 Roberts et a1 254l83 1,748,023 2/1930 Lutz et al 188-82] 1,809,179 6/1931 Opheime 18882.7 2,221,903 11/1940 Abra'mson et a1. 254134.3 2,990,160 6/1961 Foley 254134.3

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEH'R, Examiner.

O. SIMPSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PULLING A CABLE THROUGH A CONDUIT OR THE LIKE ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A SUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A ROPE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CONDUIT AND HAVING ONE END ATTACHED TO SAID CABLE COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME HAVING A LONGITUDINAL MEMBER, (B) SPACED CROSS ARMS ON SAID FRAME UNDERNEATH SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBER, ONE END OF SAID ARM HAVING NOTCHES THEREIN, (C) LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED U-SHAPED CHANNEL MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID CROSS ARMS AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, (D) CHAINS HAVING ONE END ENGAGING IN THE NOTCHES 